Final answer:
During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes, not sister chromatids, are the ones that separate. This happens during anaphase I, while sister chromatids separate in meiosis II during anaphase II, resulting in gametes with a haploid set of chromosomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement regarding meiosis I is that during this process, homologous chromosomes separate. This separation occurs during anaphase I, after the chromosomes have randomly aligned at the metaphase plate during metaphase I. Meiosis consists of two rounds of cell division, with meiosis I focusing on the separation of homologous chromosomes and meiosis II on the separation of sister chromatids. This process is crucial for reducing the chromosome number by half and ensuring genetic diversity in sexually reproducing organisms.
To clarify, sister chromatids remain together during meiosis I and only separate in meiosis II, specifically during anaphase II. At the end of meiosis II, four genetically unique gametic combinations are produced, each containing a haploid set of chromosomes, which means they have just one chromosome from each homologous pair.